Trientine is a polyamine chelating agent.[1] It reduces the amount of a copper-albumin complex and increases formation of low molecular weight complexes in a dialysis assay in a concentration-dependent manner. Trientine mobilizes copper ex vivo in human sera, increasing the supernatant percentage in an analytical ultracentrifugation experiment. In vivo, trientine (40 mg/kg, i.v.) mobilizes copper in the kidneys, but not the liver, to increase urinary excretion in rats. Trientine also decreases nickel accumulation in the liver, kidney, and spleen in mice injected with nickel chloride. [2] Formulations containing trientine have been used to reduce copper accumulation in patients with Wilson’s disease.

Reference:
[1]. Sarkar, B., Sass-Kortsak, A., Clarke, R., et al. A comparative study of in vitro and in vivo interaction of D-penicillamine and triethylenetetramine with copper. Proc. R. Soc. Med. 70(Suppl 3), 13-18 (1977).
[2]. Behari, J.R. Use of liposome entrapped triethylenetetramine (TETA) in the treatment of mice loaded with nickel chloride. Ind. Health 25(4), 221-224 (1987).